China has a new focus

Internationalisation has become an unavoidable tendency of the China International Hardware Show (CIHS), was the headline in a pre-report from the press office of the organisers, Koelnmesse. For those attending the show in Shanghai from 21 to 23 October, it will soon be apparent in which direction this new internationalisation is going.
Goods from the hardware manufacturers of this country that have focused on the markets of North America and Europe for a long time, are now becoming increasingly more important in Asia and in some parts of Africa. The year-on-year growth rates of Sino-US, Sino-Europe and Sino-Japan bilateral trade volumes of hardware products were respectively 6.68 per cent, 9.41 per cent and 4.28 per cent in 2014.
In contrast, the trade volumes of hardware products between China and ASEAN and Singapore Free Trade Area have reached growth rates of more than 20 per cent. China's hardware industry has expanded its closer foreign trade relationships with ASEAN, Malaysia and certain African countries or regions; more and more emerging markets are involved in the trades with China.
Foreign trade volume of China's hardware industry reached more than RMB 100 bn in 2014. The total volume of commodity imports and exports of China's hardware industry was USD 124.325 bn, a growth of 10.24 per cent. The export volume was USD 100.834 bn, a growth of 11.31 per cent; and the import volume was USD 23.492 bn, a growth of 5.85 per cent.

The CIHS is utilising the dynamics of the industry with some new developments. The most notable is certainly the move to Shanghai's brand new Hongqiao National Exhibition & Convention Center, the world's largest single block building and exhibition complex. Five halls with an area of 150 000m² will be occupied.
More than 120 foreign exhibitors from over ten countries and regions, including Germany, Italy and Taiwan will converge at the event. At the CIHS 2015, the pavilions from Japan, Korea and India will also join to show their latest technology and products.
The organisers of CIHS have also expanded the support programme with, for example, a Hardware Tour, provided free of charge. Overseas visitors will visit the hardware mall, hardware street and hardware supermarket, which are typical distribution channels in China.
The…